Method, system, and computer program product for configuring an attribute for propagating management datagrams in a switchless network

ABSTRACT

A plurality of nodes are maintained in a switchless network, wherein each of the plurality of nodes has at least one host channel adapter for communication. A management datagram that indicates source to destination routes for communication in the plurality of nodes is provided. An attribute is configured in the management datagram to allow the management datagram to be propagated among the plurality of nodes of the switchless network without being terminated at host channel adapters.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Embodiments relate to a method, system, and computer program product forconfiguring an attribute for propagating management datagrams in aswitchless network.

2. Background

In a computer network a plurality of devices may communicate with aplurality of other devices. In many situations the devices areinterconnected via a plurality of switches, where a switch is a computernetworking device that connects the plurality of devices together in acomputer network, by using packet switching to receive, process andforward data from a source device to the destination device via zero ormore intermediate devices. Therefore, the switches may logicallyconfigure communication links between the plurality of devices withphysical links being located between the switch and each device. Such anetwork that uses switches may be referred to as a switched computernetwork.

In contrast, in switchless computer networks, the plurality of devicesare connected via dedicated links that do not includes switches. Adevice may receive a packet from one device and forward the packet toanother device. As a result, a source device may be able to communicatewith a destination device in switchless computer networks via one ormore intermediate devices.

A subnet is a logical, visible subdivision of an Internet Protocol (IP)network. The practice of dividing a network into two or more networks iscalled subnetting. Computers, devices, and/or nodes that belong to asubnet are addressed via a common, identical, most-significant bit-groupin their IP address. In a packet switched network (e.g., an IP network),a datagram is a basic data transfer unit. A datagram may be aself-contained, independent entity of data carrying sufficientinformation to be routed from the source to the destination computerwithout reliance on earlier exchanges between the source and thedestination computer and the transporting network. The delivery, arrivaltime, and order of arrival does may not have to be guaranteed by thepacket switched network.

InfiniBand* is a computer-networking communications standard that may beused in a computer network for communication among a plurality ofdevices. Further details of InfiniBand may be found in the publication“InfiniBand Architecture, Specification Volume 1, Release 1.3”,published Mar. 3, 2015 by the InfiniBand Trade Association, and thepublication is hereinafter referred to as the “InfiniBand standard”. TheInfiniBand standard provides further descriptions for formats associatedwith datagrams, subnets, and other entities of a packet switchednetwork. The InfiniBand standard defines a format for managementmessages which supports common processing, where the management messagesare referred to as management datagrams (MAD). Each management datagramcontains the same header format that identifies the class of amanagement message and the method. In the InfiniBand standard, themanagement datagrams used for administration of a subnet are described.Subnet administration uses particular formats for management datagrams,and such management datagrams are referred to as subnet administrationmanagement datagrams. *InfiniBand is a registered trademark of theInfiniBand Trade Association.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Provided are a method, a system, and a computer program product in whicha plurality of nodes are maintained in a switchless network, whereineach of the plurality of nodes has at least one host channel adapter forcommunication. A management datagram that indicates source todestination routes for communication in the plurality of nodes isprovided. An attribute is configured in the management datagram to allowthe management datagram to be propagated among the plurality of nodes ofthe switchless network without being terminated at host channeladapters.

In further embodiments, the host channel adapters terminate themanagement datagram at the host channel adapters if the attribute is notconfigured.

In additional embodiments, a payload of the attribute includes at leasta direct route, a number of hops, and a hop counter.

In yet further embodiments, in response to receiving the attribute thehop counter is incremented by one.

In certain embodiments, sending of a reply to the attribute is performedby at least embedding the attribute, attribute parameters, reversed pathinformation, and number of hops, and setting the hop counter to 0.

In additional embodiments, the attribute in the management datagram thatallows the management datagram to be propagated among the plurality ofnodes of the switchless network without being terminated at the hostchannel adapters is associated with subnet administration.

In further embodiments, the management datagram associated with thesubnet administration is for an InfiniBand network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers representcorresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computing environment comprisinga plurality of nodes coupled in a switchless network, in accordance withcertain embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a management datagram, inaccordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart that shows the configuring of anattribute of a management datagram for transmission across a pluralityof nodes in a switchless network, in accordance with certainembodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart that shows operations performed onreceiving an attribute of a management datagram in a switchless network,in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart that shows the configuring of anattribute of a management datagram for transmission across a pluralityof nodes in a switchless network, in accordance with certainembodiments;

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a cloud computing environment, inaccordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of further details of the cloudcomputing environment of FIG. 6, in accordance with certain embodiments;and

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a computational system that showscertain elements that may be included in one or more nodes, as describedin FIGS. 1-7, in accordance with certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings which form a part hereof and which illustrate severalembodiments. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized andstructural and operational changes may be made.

The discovery and configuration of InfiniBand networks may be performedby using subnet manager protocol (SMP) direct routed managementdatagrams (MAD) that specify source to destination routes, and furtherdetails may be found in Chapter 15 (“Subnet Administration”) of thepublication “InfiniBand Architecture, Specification Volume 1, Release1.3”, published Mar. 3, 2015 by the InfiniBand Trade Association. Incurrent InfiniBand networks, the transmission of such managementdatagrams may be terminated at host channel adapters (HCA) in aswitchless network, and as a result the management datagrams cannot bepropagated from node to node. In switched networks, the switches manageand forward the management datagrams which allows the transmission ofsuch management datagrams between any pair of ports in the network.

Certain embodiments describe a method, system, and computer program forconfiguring an attribute for propagating management datagrams in aswitchless network that may comprise an InfiniBand network. In suchembodiments the transmission of the management datagrams is notterminated at host channel adapters.

Exemplary Embodiments

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a computing environment 100comprising a plurality of nodes 102, 104, 106, 108 that are coupled in aswitchless network, in accordance with certain embodiments. While inFIG. 1 only four nodes 102, 104, 106, 108 are shown, in alternativeembodiments there may be a fewer or a greater number of nodes.

Each node may comprise any suitable computational device including thosepresently known in the art, such as, a personal computer, a workstation,a server, a mainframe, a hand held computer, a palm top computer, atelephony device, a network appliance, a blade computer, a processingdevice, a controller, etc. The nodes may be elements in any suitablenetwork that is switchless. The switchless network is a network thatdoes not rely on switches to direct or transmit packets. In certainembodiments, the nodes 102, 104, 106, 108 may be elements in a cloudcomputing environment.

The plurality of nodes 102, 104, 106, 108 may each include a hostchannel adapter (HCA) that may in certain embodiments comprise aperipheral component interconnect (PCI) card. The host channel adapteris hardware that allows packets to be received and transmitted in theswitchless network. In FIG. 1, four representative host channel adapters110, 112, 114, 116 are shown. The host channel adapters 110, 112, 114,116 may include a plurality of ports, such as ports 118, 120, 122, 124,126, 128, 130, 132. In FIG. 1, port 118 is shown in communication withport 122, and port 124 is shown in communication with port 126. Incertain embodiments, the communication between any two ports iscontrolled via software implemented network drivers 134, 136, 138, 140,and other software implemented applications such as the discovery andconfiguration application 142 in the computing environment 100. Thenetwork drivers 134, 136, 138, 140 may interface with the host channeladapters 110, 112, 114, 116.

Managements datagrams 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154 may be used totransmit data from node to note in the switchless network of thecomputing environment 100. The control, configuration, and management ofthe management datagrams 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154 may be performedby at least the network drivers 134, 136, 138, 140 and the discovery andconfiguration application 142. While only one discovery andconfiguration application 142 has been shown in the first node 102,other nodes may also have similar applications.

In FIG. 1, the discovery and configuration application 142 incoordination with the network driver 134 configures the managementdatagram 144 for sending via port 118 of the host channel adapter 110.The management datagram 146 (corresponding to management datagram 144)is shown being transmitted from port 118 of the host channel adapter 110of the first node 102, to port 122 of the host channel adapter 112 ofthe second node 104. Similarly management datagram 150 may be sent fromthe second node 104 to the third node 108. In certain embodiments,attributes in the management datagrams are configured such that amanagement datagram may be transmitted across a plurality of nodes,without the transmission being terminated on receipt of the managementdatagram by a host channel adapter of a receiving node.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a management datagram 200, inaccordance with certain embodiments. In certain embodiments, eachmanagement datagram is configured to include an attribute 202 that mayalso be referred to as a ProxyMADcommand attribute. In certainembodiments, the ProxyMADcommand attribute is configured to allowmanagement datagrams to continue transmission across the host channeladapter of a receiving node.

In certain embodiments, to implement the ProxyMADcommand attribute, acustom modifier of an existing attribute (already delivered toapplications in the nodes 102, 104, 106, 108) may be used. In otherembodiments the ProxyMADcommand attribute is implemented by marking anattribute such that it is processed by the host channel adapters and themarked attribute is delivered to the application 142 that is performingdiscovery and configuration.

Associated with the attribute 202 are payloads 204 for the managementdatagram 200. The payload 204 may include indicators and/or datastructures corresponding to the number of hops 206, a hop counter 210, asource to destination route 210 that may comprise a direct route, andother parameters 212.

The number of hops 206 indicates the number of hops the managementdatagram is to be forwarded in the switchless network. The hop counter208 indicates the number of hops executed, i.e., number of hops alreadyforwarded. The source to destination route 210 indicates a direct routefor management datagrams among nodes.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart 300 that shows the configuring of anattribute of a management datagram for transmission across a pluralityof nodes in a switchless network, in accordance with certainembodiments.

Control starts at block 302 in which a network driver 134 of a firstnode 134 in cooperation with the discovery and configuration application142 configures (or does not configure) the proxyMADcommand attribute ofa management datagram 144 to indicate that the management datagram 144is not be terminated by the host channel adapter of another node.Control proceeds to block 304 in which the network driver 134 of thefirst node 102 sends the management datagram 146 (corresponds to themanagement datagram 144) from the first node 102 to the second node 104via the host channel adapter 110 of the first node 102.

The host channel adapter 112 of the second node 104 receives (at block306) the management datagram 146. The host channel adapter 112 of thesecond node 104 determines (at block 308) whether the proxyMADcommandattribute of the management datagram 146 is configured to indicate thatthe management datagram 146 is not to be terminated by the host channeladapter. If so (“Yes” branch 310) control proceeds to block 312 in whichthe host channel adapter 112 of the second node 104 transmits themanagement datagram 146 to the network driver 136, where the networkdriver 136 may determine whether the management datagram 146 needsfurther retransmission to another node.

If at block 308, the host channel adapter 112 of the second node 104determines that the proxyMADcommand attribute of the management datagram146 is not configured to indicate that the management datagram is to notbe terminated by the host channel adapter (as shown via “No” branch314), control proceeds to block 316 in which the host channel adapter112 of the second node 104 terminates further transmission of themanagement datagram 146, and the management datagram 146 is notforwarded to the network driver 136 of the second node 104.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart 400 that shows operations performed onreceiving an attribute of a management datagram in a switchless network,in accordance with certain embodiments.

Control starts at block 402 in which a node receives the attribute of amanagement datagram. The node increments (at block 404) the hop counter208 to indicate that the management datagram and been transmittedanother hop. Control proceeds to block 406 in which the node determinesif the hop count value indicated by the hop counter is equal to thenumber of hops 206. If so (“Yes” branch 407), then the packetdestination (i.e., the destination of the management datagram) is localto the node, and commands are executed in the local port of the node.Control proceeds to block 410 in which a reply is sent in response tothe configuration of the ProxyMADcommand attribute. The sending of thereply is performed via the port specified at the first entry of arecorded path, and attributes, attribute parameters, reversed pathinformation, and number of hops are embedded in the reply, while at thesame time the hop counter has been set to zero.

If at block 406, it is determined that the hop count value indicated bythe hop counter 208 is not equal to the number of hops (“No” branch 411)control proceeds to block 412 in which the packet (i.e., the managementdatagram) is transmitted to the next node via a port that is specifiedin a direct path location corresponding to the hop counter 208.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart 500 that shows the configuring of anattribute of a management datagram for transmission across a pluralityof nodes in a switchless network, in accordance with certainembodiments.

Control starts at block 502 in which a plurality of nodes 102, 104, 106,108 are maintained in a switchless network, wherein each of theplurality of nodes has at least one host channel adapter 110, 112, 114,116 for communication. A management datagram that indicates source todestination routes for communication in the plurality of nodes isprovided (at block 504). Control proceeds to block 506 in which, anattribute 202 is configured in the management datagram to allow themanagement datagram to be propagated among the plurality of nodes 102,104, 106, 108 of the switchless network without being terminated at hostchannel adapters 110, 112, 114, 116. In further embodiments, the hostchannel adapters 110, 112, 114, 116 terminate the management datagram atthe host channel adapters 110, 112, 114, 116 if the attribute is notconfigured.

In additional embodiments, the management datagram is associated withsubnet administration for an InfiniBand network.

Therefore FIGS. 1-5 illustrate certain embodiments in which a newattribute is defined to allow transmission of management datagramsthough host channel adapters in a switchless network that may beimplemented in accordance with the InfiniBand standard.

Cloud Computing Environment

Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand networkaccess to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g.,networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can berapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orservice provider interaction.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an illustrative cloud computing environment 50is depicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one ormore cloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 6 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 7, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 7) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 7 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto.

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include mainframes, in oneexample IBM zSeries* systems; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)architecture based servers, in one example IBM pSeries* systems; IBMxSeries* systems; IBM BladeCenter* systems; storage devices; networksand networking components. Examples of software components includenetwork application server software, in one example IBM WebSphere*application server software; and database software, in one example IBMDB2* database software. *IBM, zSeries, pSeries, xSeries, BladeCenter,WebSphere, and DB2 are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

Virtualization layer 62 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers;virtual storage; virtual networks, including virtual private networks;virtual applications and operating systems; and virtual clients.

In one example, management layer 64 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning provides dynamic procurement of computingresources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks withinthe cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing provide costtracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computingenvironment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management providescloud computing resource allocation and management such that requiredservice levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning andfulfillment provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloudcomputing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated inaccordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 66 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation; software development and lifecycle management; virtualclassroom education delivery; data analytics processing; transactionprocessing; and the management datagram configuration 68 as shown inFIGS. 1-6.

Additional Embodiment Details

The described operations may be implemented as a method, apparatus orcomputer program product using standard programming and/or engineeringtechniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combinationthereof. Accordingly, aspects of the embodiments may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore,aspects of the embodiments may take the form of a computer programproduct. The computer program product may include a computer readablestorage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructionsthereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the presentembodiments.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present embodiments may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present embodiments.

Aspects of the present embodiments are described herein with referenceto flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instruction.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram that shows certain elements that maybe included in the nodes 102, 104, 106, 108 or other computationaldevices in accordance with certain embodiments. The system 800 mayinclude a circuitry 802 that may in certain embodiments include at leasta processor 804. The system 800 may also include a memory 806 (e.g., avolatile memory device), and storage 808. The storage 808 may include anon-volatile memory device (e.g., EEPROM, ROM, PROM, flash, firmware,programmable logic, etc.), magnetic disk drive, optical disk drive, tapedrive, etc. The storage 808 may comprise an internal storage device, anattached storage device and/or a network accessible storage device. Thesystem 800 may include a program logic 810 including code 812 that maybe loaded into the memory 806 and executed by the processor 804 orcircuitry 802. In certain embodiments, the program logic 810 includingcode 812 may be stored in the storage 808. In certain other embodiments,the program logic 810 may be implemented in the circuitry 802. One ormore of the components in the system 800 may communicate via a bus orvia other coupling or connection 814. Therefore, while FIG. 8 shows theprogram logic 810 separately from the other elements, the program logic810 may be implemented in the memory 806 and/or the circuitry 802.

Certain embodiments may be directed to a method for deploying computinginstruction by a person or automated processing integratingcomputer-readable code into a computing system, wherein the code incombination with the computing system is enabled to perform theoperations of the described embodiments.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “someembodiments”, and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all)embodiments of the present invention(s)” unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising”, “having” and variations thereofmean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of theitems are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be incontinuous communication with each other, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with eachother may communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required. Onthe contrary a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the presentinvention.

Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the likemay be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods andalgorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In otherwords, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does notnecessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in thatorder. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in anyorder practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device/article (whether or not theycooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly,where more than one device or article is described herein (whether ornot they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a singledevice/article may be used in place of the more than one device orarticle or a different number of devices/articles may be used instead ofthe shown number of devices or programs. The functionality and/or thefeatures of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more otherdevices which are not explicitly described as having suchfunctionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the present inventionneed not include the device itself.

At least certain operations that may have been illustrated in thefigures show certain events occurring in a certain order. In alternativeembodiments, certain operations may be performed in a different order,modified or removed. Moreover, steps may be added to the above describedlogic and still conform to the described embodiments. Further,operations described herein may occur sequentially or certain operationsmay be processed in parallel. Yet further, operations may be performedby a single processing unit or by distributed processing units.

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention hasbeen presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in lightof the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention belimited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claimsappended hereto. The above specification, examples and data provide acomplete description of the manufacture and use of the composition ofthe invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, theinvention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: maintaining a plurality ofnodes in a switchless network, wherein each of the plurality of nodeshas at least one host channel adapter for communication; providing amanagement datagram that indicates source to destination routes forcommunication in the plurality of nodes; and configuring an attribute inthe management datagram to allow the management datagram to bepropagated among the plurality of nodes of the switchless networkwithout being terminated at host channel adapters.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the host channel adapters terminate the managementdatagram at the host channel adapters if the attribute is notconfigured.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a payload of the attributeincludes at least a direct route, a number of hops, and a hop counter.4. The method of claim 3, the method further comprising: in response toreceiving the attribute, incrementing the hop counter by one.
 5. Themethod of claim 3, wherein sending of a reply to the attribute isperformed by at least embedding the attribute, attribute parameters,reversed path information, and number of hops, and setting the hopcounter to
 0. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute in themanagement datagram that allows the management datagram to be propagatedamong the plurality of nodes of the switchless network without beingterminated at the host channel adapters is associated with subnetadministration.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the managementdatagram associated with the subnet administration is for an InfiniBandnetwork.
 8. A system in communication with a plurality of nodes in aswitchless network, the system comprising: a memory of a node; and aprocessor of the node, the processor coupled to the memory, wherein theprocessor performs operations, the operations comprising: maintaining aplurality of nodes in a switchless network, wherein each of theplurality of nodes has at least one host channel adapter forcommunication; providing a management datagram that indicates source todestination routes for communication in the plurality of nodes; andconfiguring an attribute in the management datagram to allow themanagement datagram to be propagated among the plurality of nodes of theswitchless network without being terminated at host channel adapters. 9.The system of claim 8, wherein the host channel adapters terminate themanagement datagram at the host channel adapters if the attribute is notconfigured.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein a payload of theattribute includes at least a direct route, a number of hops, and a hopcounter.
 11. The system of claim 10, the operations further comprising:in response to receiving the attribute, incrementing the hop counter byone.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein sending of a reply to theattribute is performed by at least embedding the attribute, attributeparameters, reversed path information, and number of hops, and settingthe hop counter to
 0. 13. The system of claim 8, wherein the attributein the management datagram that allows the management datagram to bepropagated among the plurality of nodes of the switchless networkwithout being terminated at the host channel adapters is associated withsubnet administration.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein themanagement datagram associated with the subnet administration is for anInfiniBand network.
 15. A computer program product, the computer programproduct comprising a computer readable storage medium having computerreadable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable programcode configured to perform operations, the operations comprising:maintaining a plurality of nodes in a switchless network, wherein eachof the plurality of nodes has at least one host channel adapter forcommunication; providing a management datagram that indicates source todestination routes for communication in the plurality of nodes; andconfiguring an attribute in the management datagram to allow themanagement datagram to be propagated among the plurality of nodes of theswitchless network without being terminated at host channel adapters.16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the host channeladapters terminate the management datagram at the host channel adaptersif the attribute is not configured.
 17. The computer program product ofclaim 15, wherein a payload of the attribute includes at least a directroute, a number of hops, and a hop counter.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 17, the operations further comprising: in response toreceiving the attribute, incrementing the hop counter by one.
 19. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, wherein sending of a reply to theattribute is performed by at least embedding the attribute, attributeparameters, reversed path information, and number of hops, and settingthe hop counter to
 0. 20. The computer program product of claim 15,wherein the attribute in the management datagram that allows themanagement datagram to be propagated among the plurality of nodes of theswitchless network without being terminated at the host channel adaptersis associated with subnet administration in an InfiniBand network.